Build build build airport na!

At last we are moving (or so it seems) on a project that’s so urgently needed. The NEDA Board approved the unsolicited proposal of San Miguel Corporation to build a world class international airport in Bulacan. But the approval was made with government reserving the right to make a final approval.

I was just wondering… what is a final approval? Isn’t the approval of the NEDA Board, chaired by President Duterte, final enough? Yes, San Miguel will have to comply with environmental regulations and other such requirements, but other than the Swiss challenge, that is it.

I am afraid the bureaucrats will stall it for further studies. San Miguel was ready to build that project four years ago, but the Aquino administration wasn’t capable of making bold decisions on big projects. The Duterte administration deserves congratulations for letting the proposal get as far as it has.

Already I am hearing bureaucrats expressing fear that the project is too big and that San Miguel may not be able to carry it out. They are worried San Miguel may not be able to convince bankers and other financiers to bankroll the project and, thus, leave it half finished.

Given that the project is not seeking any guarantees from the government, we should just let the project get started. Financing it is San Miguel’s problem and I am sure Ramon Ang wouldn’t propose it if he hasn’t assured availability of financing.

As for those who worry that the Bulacan airport is too close to Clark, experts tell me that Clark serves a different base and will have its own market in Central and Northern Luzon. If the Clark New City is successful with government and private offices relocating there, Clark International Airport will be very busy.

Right now, we should rejoice that a decision has been made to build a modern airport we urgently need by a private sector entity that is motivated to make it work and compete with regional airports.

Sangley will take longer to construct given that massive reclamation must be done. It is also being proposed by the Cavite provincial government and supposedly some Chinese companies. I am more confident with San Miguel for faster and more flawless execution.

There are those asking why locate it in Bulacan. My answer is, why not? The northern part of Metro Manila along the Manila Bay shoreline had been neglected like forever. Development focused on the south. Having the airport in Bulacan will help develop the area and decongest the main metropolis.

San Miguel seems to have a grand plan. For the immediate future, the wide area bound by MRT 7, the Bulacan Water Project, and the airport will allow the creation of a smart city. The northern shoreline of Manila Bay should be prime real estate, but it is not. These developments will change things.

San Miguel is not just building an international airport. From earlier conversations I had with RSA, he said he would connect the airport to the elevated connector road that San Miguel is also building to ease travel from NLEX to SLEX.

Building a viaduct that connects the airport to Manila along the shoreline is also being studied. RSA made the comment that a viaduct has no right of way problems and would be faster to construct. Passengers can get to Roxas Boulevard in no time via this expressway from the airport.

An ecosystem naturally develops around an international airport. Logistics companies, hotels and other related businesses will thrive within the vicinity of the new airport. This part of Bulacan will see development like they never thought was possible.

Government officials have been talking for years about a Manila to Clark train that will make Clark feasible. Where is it? In any case, even if that train line develops, there is so much room for more urbanized areas outside of MM and in addition to Clark.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said a final government review of the project is aimed at making sure the proponents of major infrastructure projects have the financial and technical capability to complete it.

 “This project is a P735 billion project and we must make sure the proponent has the financial and technical capability to carry it out. And a partnership is obviously allowed for that.”

That’s fair enough, but I hope that review doesn’t take too long. We already lost two years of the current Duterte term that could have been used to build that airport. San Miguel must be given the opportunity to open even one terminal and one runway before the end of the Duterte term in 2022.

As Dominguez himself said, “The President wants all infrastructure projects to be done quickly. He does not discriminate whether it’s this or that. He just wants all the infrastructure to be done quickly because he believes that is one of the reasons he was elected to make life easier for people, and this requires precisely better infrastructure development.”

The last hurdle for the San Miguel project proposal is a Swiss challenge. Under a Swiss challenge, the government would invite other private groups to make competing offers for the unsolicited project. However, the original proponent has the right to match them.

Since this is not the usual unsolicited proposal in the sense that the land is also owned by the proponent, I don’t know how they will conduct the challenge, or if anyone will challenge San Miguel.

The absence of a challenger has happened before. P-Noy also made Metro Pacific submit to a Swiss challenge for SCTEX and when no one challenged, BCDA awarded it to Metro Pacific.

SMC has proposed to build a 1,168-hectare airport featuring six parallel runways with a capacity of 100 million passengers. The proposed international gateway would be constructed within a 2,500-hectare property in Bulakan, Bulacan.

Let’s Build Build Build. Not Study Study Study!

Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @boochanco